Leslie Duane Koster, 81, Piedmont, died Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Fort Meade, after a long battle with cancer.
Les was born July 29, 1934, in New Underwood, SD. He attended 8 years of school at the Hamilton #2 Country School. Les joined the US Army on May 8, 1957, and was a recovery specialist until his honorable discharge on May 7, 1959.
Les and his brothers were avid sportsmen. They loved to hunt and fish and Les enjoyed trapping. Many times, his brothers would come to the Black Hills for opening days of deer hunting season. They also enjoyed antelope hunting near Faith, SD. Les loved to fish, especially when he caught a 40 inch tiger muskee at Orman Dam.
Les moved to Piedmont, SD, where he helped take care of his aunt, Suzy Koster, after her husband died in 1964. Les was working as a butcher at the Bargain Barn Grocery when he met Ginger Benett. He and Ginger were married on May 4, 1964, and the made their home in Piedmont. He adopted Troy soon after.
Les loved his woodworking and gathering firewood. He was either building with wood, or burning it. His passion for wood led him into a career as a supervisor for Self Help Housing in Rapid Valley. Les also worked Meade County where he drove road grader for 3 years.